Head-to-head comparison
Charleston Southern University vs Allen University: which has better ROI?
Option A Charleston, SC
Charleston Southern University
- Net price / year
- $21,666
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,898
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbia, SC
Allen University
- Net price / year
- $10,972
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,497
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Charleston Southern University comes closer — median earnings $45,898 against a $86,664 total, vs $30,497 at Allen University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Charleston Southern University | Allen University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,666 | $10,972 |
| Total net cost | $86,664 | $43,888 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,898 | $30,497 |
| Median debt | $26,471 | $34,290 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$135,904 | -$401,148 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Charleston Southern University or Allen University?
Allen University, at $10,972 a year after aid versus $21,666 — a gap of $10,694 a year, or $42,776 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Charleston Southern University or Allen University graduates earn more?
Charleston Southern University graduates report a median $45,898 ten years after entry, $15,401 more than the $30,497 at Allen University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Charleston Southern University or Allen University?
Charleston Southern University: its completers carry a median $26,471 in federal loans versus $34,290 at Allen University, a difference of $7,819. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Charleston Southern University, against 13% at Allen University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.